7 Days in the Dark: Indiana’s Desperate Fight to Survive Without Power
Northwest Indiana Food Banks Overwhelmed After Week-Long Power Outages
Imagine this: A big storm knocks out your electricity for seven whole days. Your fridge stops working, so all your food goes bad. You can’t cook, you can’t charge your phone, and you don’t know when the lights will come back on. Now imagine thousands of your neighbors are in the exact same boat. That’s what happened in Northwest Indiana recently.
What Happened?
One week ago, powerful storms ripped through Northwest Indiana — especially Gary, Lake Station, and Hobart. The damage was so bad that many families are still without power, and the crisis is far from over.
Food Banks Can’t Keep Up
At West Side Leadership Academy (Gary)
- A mobile food pantry served 150 people before completely running out of food
- The school district handed out 700 grab-and-go lunches over two days — and ran out of those too
- Without refrigeration, the school had to throw away spoiled food and donate what was left to a nearby food bank
- Families are asking for food, clothing, and shelter
Important Point: This isn’t the school’s first time helping — they’ve partnered with food banks since May. But the storm made the need much bigger and more urgent.
Schools Can’t Reopen Yet
Even when electricity returns, schools can’t just open their doors. Here’s why:
- Room-by-room safety checks — every classroom must be inspected
- Fire protection systems must be working
- Water leaks and fallen trees need cleanup
- All utilities (water, heat, alarms) must be tested
Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes hoped power would return to the building by Tuesday, but students and staff can’t return until everything is safe.
It’s a Regional Crisis — Not Just One Town
Lake Station Mayor Bill Carroll put it plainly:
"This is not just a Lake Station problem, or a Hobart problem — this is a regional problem we’re all going through together."
Fire Departments Became Community Hubs
Local fire stations turned into survival centers offering:
- Food
- Cooling centers (to escape heat)
- Charging stations for phones/medical devices
- Places to rest
Local Governments Are Running on Empty
- Hobart Township Trustee Fred Williams said they’ve given away all their stockpiled food
- Township budget: less than $1 million/year
- Staff: fewer than 10 employees
- No way to restock supplies right now
- Despite this, they’ve served hot dogs, hamburgers, and meals for days
Real Families, Real Struggles
Georgia Hatfield (Hobart resident)
- 6 days without power
- When electricity returned: empty refrigerator, no money to restock
- Second major storm to wipe out her family’s food supply
- Fresh fruit (like strawberries) felt like "winning the lottery"
- No internet → neighbors sharing info the old-fashioned way: talking over fences, passing news by word of mouth
Susana Pedrosa (Hobart resident)
- Caring for a 77-year-old roommate
- Trying to find a generator
- Said: "It’s been hard, so hard for everybody — not just me."
Susanna Enslen (Hobart Township staff)
- Her own home still has no power
- 87-year-old mother evacuated to South Bend
- Even after power returned, mom had appliance and water heater problems
- Township staff working through their own damage to help others
- Served 700+ meals in two days
- Compared the destruction to Hurricane Katrina — affecting schools, homes, roads, utilities, everything
What We Still Don’t Know
- Full scope of damage across all communities
- How long full recovery will take
- Secondary effects still hurting people:
- Spoiled food
- Water problems
- Damaged homes
- Limited/no internet
- Hard to find gasoline
- Schools may stay closed even after power returns — inspections take time
What’s Next? How You Can Help
Local officials say the #1 need right now is: CONTINUED HELP.
Hobart Township Trustee Fred Williams asks:
"If anybody has anything they’d like to donate — food, supplies, anything — please reach out to Mayor Bill or myself. We’ll come pick it up."
Summary: Key Takeaways
| What Happened | Impact | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Severe storms hit NW Indiana | Widespread power outages (7+ days) | Many still without electricity |
| Food banks overwhelmed | 150+ served at one site before running out | Demand far exceeds supply |
| Schools damaged | Water leaks, fallen trees, safety hazards | Closed until room-by-room inspections pass |
| Local gov’ts stretched thin | No budget to restock, staff also affected | Relying on community donations |
| Residents struggling | Spoiled food, no info, no gas, elderly at risk | Neighbors helping neighbors |
One bright spot: As Georgia Hatfield said — "It’s turned into old school. Neighbors talking to neighbors… trying to help each other."
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: How long have people been without power?
A: About one week (7 days) for many families. Some still don’t have electricity restored.
Q: Why can’t schools just reopen when the power comes back?
A: Buildings need full safety inspections — checking fire alarms, water systems, structural damage, and more. This takes time.
Q: What do food banks need most right now?
A: Donations of food and supplies, plus volunteers. Local officials say they’ll pick up donations if you can’t drop them off.
Q: How are elderly or vulnerable people being helped?
A: Some have been evacuated (like Susanna Enslen’s 87-year-old mom). Fire stations serve as cooling/charging hubs. But many seniors are still struggling at home.
Q: Is this only affecting Gary?
A: No. Mayor Bill Carroll emphasized this is a regional crisis affecting Gary, Lake Station, Hobart, and surrounding areas all at once.
Final Thought: The storm happened a week ago, but for thousands in Northwest Indiana, recovery is just beginning. If you’re able to help — even a little — your neighbors need you.